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Carrot Cake
Whipping up this dessert involves an extra step that takes traditional carrot cake to new levels of deliciousness. If that isn’t enough to tempt you, consider that it adds yet another wave of scents that will overtake your kitchen in the best way possible. A knock on the door while this was in the oven led to being asked what seasonal candle I was burning, but the answer was simple: I’m just baking. In a season of bubbling fruit pies and pumpkin everything, this carrot cake overtook everyone who enjoyed a slice with its scent and flavor. Traditional favorites with a twist remind us of the warmest food memories while…
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Maple Pumpkin Crumble
Satisfy your autumn cravings with a new take on the seasonal fruit crumble. The crumb layer that tops this maple pumpkin dessert is tasty, generous, and made without a bit of butter. As for the filling, it’s sweetened only with maple syrup and much lighter than a traditional pumpkin filling. If you’re like me and enjoy sweets on the regular, seasonal crumbles are probably high on your list of go-to desserts. From time to time, they need a little shake up though. That’s where the olive oil based crumb and lighter approach to pumpkin come into play. As you know from my chocolate chip olive oil muffins and some dessert…
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Strawberry Muffins
Cherished as a herald of summer, ripe local strawberries have long been a sign of the changing season. Their stains often match the deep pink color of evening sky outside the window while I bake. If you head outside on the right June evening, that sky will also feature the year’s Strawberry Moon, so-named by the Algonquin tribes who used the month’s full moon as a sign to gather plump wild strawberries. Enjoy the spectacle with one of these treats in hand, and eat one again the next morning. Every strawberry season needs a standout recipe that justifies another haul of fresh berries. Ingredients 1 cup chopped fresh strawberries 1…
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Seeded Brown Sugar Tart
Similar in flavor to pecan pie, this brown sugar tart is lighter on sweetness and completely free of nuts and corn syrup. A coating of mixed seeds gives the top a crunch and delicate, nutty flavor while creating a mosaic effect that is the only table centerpiece you need. As you sprinkle the sesame, poppy, and unshelled pumpkin seeds onto the unbaked filling, they create a pattern like leaves and light passing through them. The poppy seeds make what seem to me like shadows. For those with nut allergies who can safely consume seeds, this recipe is a great nut-free alternative to traditional pies featuring ingredients such as pecans and…
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Rustic Chocolate Chip Cookies
The ultimate chocolate chip cookie is an ideal every baker aspires to achieve. The challenge is that we each have a different, and sometimes contradictory, concept of what makes the perfect one. Crispy but chewy. Crunchy but soft. Add to that the vastly different preferences of family and friends, and you can see why you might want to master a few recipes based on who’s going to be indulging in your cookie stash. When I created this recipe, I wanted a cookie that gave a satisfying crunch and deep color at the edges, but with a buttery, softer middle. The resulting version is just that – crunchy and crispy right…
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